A Brief History

MenloHacks IV is the latest iteration of the MenloHacks 24-hour hackathon.
Every year, 200 high school students come together to produce a wide array of amazing
projects; you can see the projects for MenloHacks
I,
II, and
III. Over the years, MenloHacks
has always included top-notch support, workshops, and food. Our judges have included Former
Apple SVP of iOS Scott Forstall and YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki.
To get a sense of last year and what to expect this year, here's the summary video from
MenloHacks III:

What's New

MenloHacks IV will continue all of the best MenloHacks traditions: great workshops,
amazing judges, and top-notch food. This year, we are focused on improving the overall
quality of MenloHacks. We hope to provide more engaging workshops for
attendees of all ability levels, as well as increase the number of mentors we have
available to help. We are also working to improve our snack distribution system to
ensure hackers are well fed.

Schedule

Saturday, March 9

10:00 AM

Check-in

11:00 AM

Opening Ceremony

12:00 PM

Team-Forming Session

12:00 PM

Hacking Begins

1:00PM

Lunch

6:30PM

Dinner

Sunday, March 10

12:00 AM

Midnight Snack

8:00 AM

Breakfast

12:00 PM

Hacking Ends

12:15 PM

Lunch

12:45 PM

Judging and Closing Ceremony

3:00 PM

Go Home and Sleep

Judges

Diaz NesamoneyFounder & CEO, Jivox

Susan WojcickiCEO, YouTube

Marissa MayerCo-Founder, Lumi LabsFormer CEO, Yahoo

Jeff HousenboldManaging Partner, SoftBank Vision Fund

Sharmilla MulliganCEO & Founder, ClearStory Data

Jeff HuberVice Chairman & Founding CEO, Grail

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a hackathon?

In this context, the word "hack" means to create. A hackathon is an event where people come together for 24 hours to make something using the wonders of technology. But, the goal of a hackathon isn't just to create something: it's also to learn. Hackathons are the time to experiment with new technologies, APIs, SDKs, or learn to code from scratch.

Who can attend?

Anyone currently in high school is eligible to apply.

How much coding experience do I need?

None at all. Hackathons are a fantastic place to learn and get advice from experienced hackers. We'll also host plenty of workshops and have plenty of mentors so by the end of the 24 hours you'll have a working project even if you haven't coded a day in your life before. We also host a prize for best beginner hack.

How much does the event cost?

A sum total of $0.00. Even meals, snacks, caffeine, sodas, and other drinks are provided. Our goal is to let you hack worry free.

What should I bring?

Bring a form of photo ID (school IDs are fine), a laptop, and a charger. If you don't have a laptop, email hello@menlohacks.com and we'll find something for you. While we will be providing some hardware, if you need something special, also bring that. Also, if you want to sleep, bring a sleeping bag.

How will I get there?

You are responsible for finding your own transportation. Ideally, try and find a ride because we don't recommend driving back for safety reasons after a hackathon. We can help find you a carpool. We will not be providing travel reimbursement at this time.

How big are the teams?

Up to 4 people.

How do I find a team?

All accepted hackers will be given an invitation to a Facebook group which can be used to find teammates. Additionally, the event will feature a team-forming event. Obviously, if you have friends going to the event, you are welcome to just team up with them; however, it is often more fun to code with new people.

Is there a code of conduct?

Yes, there is. Nothing too out of the ordinary though. Generally, be nice to others. If you want the full guide, we are using the MLH code of conduct which can be found here.